Notes From the Writing Chair

Getting Back Into It

2012-05-29T09:26:00.000-06:00

I finished my revision of my second novel, The Ransomed Returning! I needed to cut it from 122K down to 100K. It came out at 91K! I could hardly believe it when I finished typing up all my changes and checked the word count. Phew! Who knew I had so much fat in there to cut?

I'll read over the whole thing after I let it sit for a week or two, and I think I'll find it a stronger novel than it was before. This was a fairly new experience for me. I've never had to cut so radically or revise so extensively. Of course, this is my first novel after a decade of short stories, so I guess that's to be expected.

Now that I'm done with that, I'm ready to get back to work on my third book, Shattered Skies. I'm nearly done with it, but it's been six weeks since I looked at it. It taking some effort to get back into it, to figure out where I am and where I was going. Fortunately, it's another sequel to Defenders of the Covenant, so I have been working with the same characters during the revision. That makes it easier. Still, I'm having a bit of trouble getting my head around the story again. Re-reading a few chapters and looking over my notes will be helpful. Daydreaming about the fabulous ending I'm almost at is good too. Other than that, I just have to dive right back in and see where it takes me.

What are your suggestions for getting back into a story you've set aside for a while?

More on Defenders of the Covenant

2012-05-21T10:27:00.001-06:00

Today, I have a couple of more links on my unofficial blog tour!

First, Cathy Witbeck reviewed Defenders on her blog. Check it out.

Also, Danyelle Leafty captured Hannah's heart today. Come see what Hannah has to say.

Just a reminder, since I haven't really made a big deal of it, if you comment on any of the posts over there in the sidebar, and follow both my blog and the participating blog, you'll be entered into a drawing for an Avenging Angels T-shirt! You'll be entered for each comment you leave--one per post. Runs through the end of this month!

Have a happy day! =)

I'm Such a Rebel

2012-05-18T09:59:00.000-06:00

Go check out my guest post today on Writing with Shelly and Chad to find out how rebellious I am.

Have a great weekend!

Some Things I Like

2012-05-15T10:26:00.000-06:00

My table at Costco

No doubt about it. These Costco signings are kind of rough, at least time-wise. I miss being with my family. But there a lot of things I have really enjoyed about it, too. I felt so nervous about talking to strangers, but it has actually been fun. Especially when I get to talk about my book. =) I love when people smile and say thank you when I hand them a bookmark. It makes me chuckle inside when they ask, "Are you the author?" No, I'm just standing here selling this book for fun... I love the way people's eyes light up when I say, "It's an LDS science fiction adventure novel." And they answer, "Really? That sounds cool!" Then I blow a virtual raspberry at everyone who told me there was no market for that. Teehee. I also love, love, love people watching, so I never feel bored during the slow times. There's always someone interesting to observe. Overall, it's been a good experience. I'm glad, because I have a lot more of the Costco signings coming up!

Another thing I like--my son told me a friend of his is using my book for his Honor's English book project. That made me happy. I think I've always had a secret dream of being someone's book project. Hooray for silly dreams come true!

So, what are you doing this week to make your dreams come true?

And So It Begins...

2012-05-08T10:19:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow begins my Costco book signing adventure! Here's my schedule:

Lehi Store:
May 9th 4-8pm
May 10th 4-8pm
May 15th 4-8pm
May 16th 4-8pm
May 22nd 4-8pm
May 26th 10-6pm
May 30th 12-4pm
May 31st 12-4pm

Salt Lake Store:
May 17th 4-8pm
May 19th 12-4pm
May 24th 4-8pm
May 29th 12-4pm

So, if you live nearby, please stop by and say hello. I'd love to see you! I have to admit this is another one of those things that is way outside of my comfort zone! I'm a little bit terrified. So, cross your fingers for me.

Have you done something to exit your comfort zone? How'd it go?

Making the Most of It

2012-05-02T10:34:00.000-06:00

This is the continuation of my Finding Time to Write post last week.

Now I'd like to talk about making the most of the time devoted to writing that you've carved out of your busy life. This could be a discussion about outlining or story structure of overcoming writer's block, but it's not. I want to address how we feel and think about writing. Is it just a hobby? A guilty pleasure? A selfish pursuit? Is it really worth the time?

I suppose those are questions that we have to answer for ourselves. But if you want to succeed as a writer--in whatever way you define success--then you are going to have to take it seriously.

When I first started out, I read in a book on writing (or maybe heard at a conference) that it was important to take yourself seriously as a writer. I took that advice to heart. I told people I was a writer, even before I was close to getting anything published. I kept my writing dreams at the forefront of my mind. Fortunately, I was blessed with supportive family and friends, which I know not all of us have.

Still, there were times when I felt guilty for taking time to write, and when I felt like maybe I was just being selfish, or that all the effort just wasn't really worth it. Heck, I still feel that way sometimes. But in order to achieve your writing hopes and dreams, you must banish these negative and unproductive feelings!

Deiter F. Uchtdorf, a very wise man, said:

"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before. ,. . .Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty."

No, you are not wasting your time. You are creating something that did not exist before, and that it is inherently worthwhile! You are developing your God-given talents and you are giving service to those who will read your words, even if it's just your family and friends. However, if you take it seriously enough, if you don't let anything stand in your way, it won't be just your family and friends. Who knows? You could write something that changes the world. President Uchtdorf also said:

"Don’t let fear of failure discourage you. Don’t let the voice of critics paralyze you—whether that voice comes from the outside or the inside."

Yes, there must be balance. Only you can decide what that balance is. But don't let fear or guilt or anything else get in the way of the deepest yearnings of your heart. You can do this. You should do this. No, get out there and do it!

P.S. You can read the entire address from President Uchtdorf here.

Another Review of Defenders

2012-04-30T10:21:00.000-06:00

Today, Renae Mackley of Renae's Writespot reviews Defenders of the Covenant. Thanks, Renae

If you missed the rest of my unofficial blog tour, here are the links:

First Chapter
March Madness Interview
Guest Post on Angela Felsted's Blog
J.Lloyd Morgan's Review
Jane Still's Review
Stacy Coles' Review
Kathleen Brebes' Review
Interview and Review with C. LaRene Hall
Renae Mackely's Review
Taffy Lovell's Review

I have just decided that if you comment on any or all of these links, I'll put your name into a drawing for an Avenging Angels T-shirt!

Wouldn't you love to be an honorary member of the fleet?

The giveaway will be open through all the upcoming reviews, interviews and such until May 31, and I'll hold the drawing on June 1.

(Some posts, like Jane Still's, don't have comments open, so those won't be included. Also, I'll only include commenters who are also following my blog and the participating blog. Rules and all that.)

So, go forth, comment and enjoy!

Interview Today!

2012-04-27T16:35:00.000-06:00

Hey, all. You may have noticed over there in the sidebar that I have a little unofficial blog tour going on for Defenders of the Covenant. Today, I was interviewed by C. LaRene Hall. So, if you're interested in when I started writing, where I got my inspiration for the book, and my best piece of advice, go check it out. Plus, you'll get to read her awesome review of the book. =)

You Won't Find Time to Write in Your Couch Cushions

2012-04-25T11:13:00.000-06:00

I thought I'd share the highlights of my "Finding Time to Write" presentation here on the blog.

First of all, if you're waiting to write until you find the time, you will never write! Sad, but true. We cannot find the time to write. It's not hiding under the couch cushions. We have to make the time to write and we have to make that time count!

So, how do you make time to write? Make a list of everything you do each day, and I mean everything--from working to eating to sleeping to combing your hair. Go ahead, I'll wait.

Done? Okay. Take a good, hard look at that list. Are there activities you could spend less time on? Are there any you could eliminate entirely?

Here are just a few suggestions for carving time out of your day:

Get up a half hour (or even fifteen minutes) earlier, or go to bed a little later

Take the bus to work and write on the bus

Take a few minutes of your lunch break to write

Trade off babysitting with a friend

Make a double batch of dinner and save half for another night

Watch less TV (or no TV!)

Let your family pitch in on cooking, cleaning and other household tasks

Settle for a less-than-spotless house

I think you get the picture. The bottom line is that writing (or doing anything worthwhile) requires sacrifice. There are some things you may have to give up in order to spend time writing. Only you can determine what those sacrifices should be. Just make sure you're not sacrificing the wrong things. I firmly believe that we should never sacrifice our relationships or our health (physical, emotional and spiritual) for writing.

What are you willing to sacrifice for writing?

Next week, we'll talk about how to make your writing time effective.

Out of the Comfort Zone

2012-04-18T10:15:00.000-06:00

Well, I survived teaching at Write Here in Ephraim. I think it went pretty well. I felt like I was talking too fast, and didn't know if I made sense half the time, but the people attending seemed to like it all right. I think. That was my Science Fiction and Fantasy class. I took a lot of what I said from the Writing Speculative Fiction posts I did. Only one person came to my Finding Time to Write class, but she and I had a nice discussion.

It was good for me to get outside my comfort zone like that and stretch myself a bit. I think I learned more about how to make a presentation interesting and how to get people involved. I'll do even better next time.

Another stretching moment came this week when I submitted my second novel (a sequel to Defenders of the Covenant) and she politely asked me to cut it by 20k words if possible. Really? 20,000 words is a whole lot to come out of a novel! But I want to see it published, so I am taking the challenge. Yesterday, I started hacking. And hacking. And hacking. It got it down by 26K! That should give me the room to add what I need to put all the pieces back into a coherent whole again. You know what? I think it's going to be a better novel for it.

What have you done to step outside your comfort zone lately?

Pep Talk!

2012-04-13T11:14:00.000-06:00

We all need a pep talk once in a while, don't we? Tomorrow is Write Here in Ephraim. (If you're in the area, you should totally come. It's free and it's going to be fabulous!) It's my first real conference teaching experience. I've been on panels, but having an hour all to myself to try and impart something important about writing is a little daunting.

So, I've been giving myself a pep talk today. I can do this! I know a lot about writing! I can be fun and entertaining! Right? Right? Funny enough, it actually is working. I feel a lot more confident than I did yesterday.

So, here's a pep talk for you, for whatever might be daunting you at the moment. Finishing your WIP, writing a query, submitting, getting started...whatever.

You can do it! You are awesome! Just look at how far you've come already! I believe in you! I know you can succeed!

So there you go. Now go forth and conquer!

LDS Writer Blogfest: Avoiding Envy

2012-04-10T07:00:00.000-06:00

Kayleen Hamblin of Kayleen's Creation Corner invited me to participate in the 3rd annual LDS Writer Blogfest. I chose one of the talks from our recent general conference to blog about. It is from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland about the Savior's parable of the laborer's in the vineyard, found in Matthew 20:1-15. I chose this talk since it concerns an issue that I think is relevant to us writers. Envy. We may not talk about it, but I know from personal experience how easy it can be to feel envious of the success of others in this business. Don't get me wrong. I love this writing community. It is so supportive and terrific. But I have felt those envious feelings stirring in me on more than one occasion. Here's what Elder Holland had to say:

Brothers and sisters, there are going to be times in our lives when someone else gets an unexpected blessing or receives some special recognition. May I plead with us not to be hurt—and certainly not to feel envious—when good fortune comes to another person? We are not diminished when someone else is added upon. We are not in a race against each other to see who is the wealthiest or the most talented or the most beautiful or even the most blessed. The race we are really in is the race against sin, and surely envy is one of the most universal of those.

Furthermore, envy is a mistake that just keeps on giving. Obviously we suffer a little when some misfortune befalls us, but envy requires us to suffer all good fortune that befalls everyone we know! What a bright prospect that is—downing another quart of pickle juice every time anyone around you has a happy moment! To say nothing of the chagrin in the end, when we find that God really is both just and merciful, giving to all who stand with Him “all that he hath,”2 as the scripture says. So lesson number one from the Lord’s vineyard: coveting, pouting, or tearing others down does not elevate your standing, nor does demeaning someone else improve your self-image. So be kind, and be grateful that God is kind. It is a happy way to live.

So true! That really touched me when I heard it. I don't think I have a huge problem with envy, but I know I've felt it at times for sure. And I am happy for all of your successes. We're all in this together, my friends!

Read the entire talk here.

Go check out the other entries!
Amanda Sowards
Ben Spendlove
Britanny Larsen
Cami Checketts
Charity Bradford
Danyelle Ferguson
Giselle Abreu
Julia Keanini
Julie Coulter Bellon
Kasey Tross
Kayeleen Hamblin
Kelly Bryson
Krista Van Dolzer
Laura Johnston
Melanie Standord
Rachelle Christensen
Rebecca Belliston
Sierra Gardner
Stephanie Worlton

A Brand New Bag

2012-04-06T09:33:00.001-06:00

The writing bag then...

I loved my old writing bag. Loved it! My sister made it for me. I loved the soft yellow fabric, the cheerful daisies, the mint green interior. I loved the many pockets and the large space inside. I loved it so much that I loved it to death. The handles are threadbare. They are coming unstitched from the top of the bag. There are holes in the bottom corners. I knew it was time for a new bag.

...and now.

I need something that can carry multiple notebooks and has lots of space for all the pens, mp3 player, phone, carmex, sunglasses, flash drive, scraps of paper, camera, and everything else I need in order to write. I decided on this awesome vintage messenger bag.

I. Love. It. No offense to my darling sister or the memory of my other beloved bag, but this one is also perfect. It has pockets and roominess and sturdy canvas. And a bio-hazard symbol. So far, I'm very pleased with my bag.

And yes, having the right bag does help me write better!

What about you? Do you have a special object--bag or something else--that you need to get your writing done?

A to Z Guest Post

2012-04-04T09:41:00.000-06:00

I'm sort of sideways participating in the A to Z Blog Challenge today with a guest post over on Angela Felsted's blog.

I'm talking about (what else?) Defenders of the Covenant for the letter D. Go check it out!

Launch Party!

2012-04-02T13:56:00.000-06:00

My launch party last Friday went better than I could have imagined. It was so much fun! My sweet, talented husband put together a video of some of the highlights of the night. Enjoy.

Cool Stuff I Want to Share

2012-03-29T14:19:00.000-06:00

Only a couple more days left for Kindles for Kids. Visit Danyelle's website to see all the great prizes she is offering. You could also pick up a signed, limited edition hardcover copy of Catspell. This would make a wonderful gift or donation to a library or a great addition to your library. She won't be offering hardcovers after this, so don't miss out!

I am so looking forward to Elana Johnson's next book, Surrender. If you preorder it now, you could win one of 50 booklets with never-to-be released character content and fabulous character illustrations. That would be so incredibly cool to have! Check it out.

Maybe you noticed over on the sidebar already--my publisher is giving away three copies of Defenders of the Covenant on Goodreads. Pop over there and enter to win! And while you're there, mark it "to-read." That'd be great.

Tomorrow is the big day! My launch party. I am crazy excited and nervous, too--like stomachache inducing nerves. I really need to settle down and just enjoy myself. Anyway, if you're in the neighborhood, I'd love to see you there!

Right now on Amazon, Defenders is only $14.81! Great price. You can also order it from Deseret Book, or pick it up at your local Deseret Book store.

Also, Defenders of the Covenant has it's own Facebook page now. The characters have taken over, so go "like" it, if you want. I'd sure appreciate it!

Side Note: I feel like this blog is dying an ignominious death, and I'm not sure what to do to revive it. Tell me, what sort of stuff do you most like to see on the blog? Posts about writing, my book, life in general? Giveaways, blog fests, guest posts, interviews? I know I haven't had much time for blog reading myself lately, and maybe that has something to do with it. What do you think? What do you like most about my blog? (If anything.) Your input is appreciated!

The Ebb and Flow

2012-03-27T11:50:00.000-06:00

What with all the excitement and hubbub of Defenders of the Covenant being released, writing on my next novel went down the drain for a few weeks. Sure, I was doing lots of other important writing related tasks, but I still wanted to meet my weekly and monthly writing goals, and it just wasn't happening. Every time I thought I had gotten myself unstuck, I'd write two pages and come to a dead halt again. At that point, it was a lot more fun to go do some "marketing" or something rather than try to work on this book. I felt bad about it. I seriously wondered if maybe I were destined to be a one-hit wonder.

But, I have been through this kind of stuck-ness before, so I knew I could get out of it, if I just kept plugging along. I did. I made myself take time for writing every day even if I got nothing done.

I am happy to report that the writing is flowing now, and it is a great feeling! I just reached page 375, and hope do be to 400 by the end of next week. (I had hoped to get to 400 by the end of the month, but one week back isn't so bad.)

How do you get through periods of writer's block?

Lucky 7 Tag!

2012-03-26T12:29:00.000-06:00

I got tagged twice for this little game, first by T.M. Hunter of The West(ern) Chronicles, and then by J. Lloyd Morgan on Facebook. So, here goes!

To play along, here are THE RULES:
1. Go to page 77 of your current ms.
2. Go to line 7.
3. Copy and post the next 7 sentences as they’re written. No cheating.
4. Tag 7 other victims, er, authors.

This is from my WIP, Shattered Skies, and ironically enough the first part of Chapter 7.

I know that's what Eleni believes." He stood up and paced in front of the sofa. "No wonder. Look what happened." Oh, Dori. Oh, Eleni. He had the urge to put his fist through a wall.

"Sit down," Mariane said.

Wesley stopped mid-stride and looked at his mother. She nodded her head toward the recliner across from her. Wesley sat.

"Tell me why you came here," she said.

So, there you have it. Be sure and check out T. M. Hunter's newest release Death Brings Victory (I got to beta read this for him, not to brag or anything), and J. Lloyd Morgan's book The Hidden Sun (which I have reviewed here). Thanks for tagging me, guys. That was kinda fun!

I don't feel up to tagging seven people, so if you'd like to play along, consider yourself tagged. =)

Check This Out!

2012-03-24T06:00:00.000-06:00

Author Tristi Pinkston announces the publication of her tenth book, Women of Strength, a nonfiction inspirational novel geared for the LDS market that is perfect for Mother’s Day gift-giving … or as a very thoughtful present for yourself on any occasion. She’s holding an online book launch on her blog all day on Saturday, March 24^th, and you are invited! Every two hours from 10 a.m. to midnight, Tristi will be holding mini-contests, answering trivia questions, and giving away great prizes. Head on over to http://www.tristipinkston.blogspot.comto enter and to have a great time!

The Best Moment

2012-03-23T07:00:00.000-06:00

My books arrived on my doorstep yesterday. It was perhaps one of the sweetest moments of my life!

The books!

The culmination of years of writing, waiting, hoping, dreaming, persevering finally arrived, and, yeah, I totally cried. No one was home but my darling four year old, who just didn't get it, so I called my best friend, Suzette, to whom the book is dedicated and told her to come over and get one!

Suzette and Me with the first signed copy!

My first signed book! It's only appropriate that it should go to her, since she is a huge part of the reason this actually came to pass. Thanks, Suzy! I love you.

Then I called my husband and cried on the phone to him for a few minutes. =)

It was really a sweet day!

Book Bomb! Caller ID by Rachelle J. Christensen

2012-03-22T07:00:00.000-06:00

Today, Thursday, March 22, 2012, we're holding a book bomb for my friend Rachelle Christensen and her new suspense/thriller novel, CALLER ID. This is one great deal! Purchase CALLER ID from Amazon.com using this link. Then email RachelletheWriter@gmail.com with your order confirmation/receipt. Once Rachelle receives your order details, she will email you an amazing selection of over 20 free gifts.

Click here to see all the free gifts, which includes tons of ebooks and other great stuff, including my novella, The Bearer's Oath!

Why a book bomb? A book bomb is when a large group of people order a certain book on a specific day on Amazon. This pushes the book's popularity up the Amazon ranks, which in turn gives the book more visibility to Amazon shoppers. That’s the goal today for CALLER ID.

So feel free to pass this on to your friends and shout it out on FB, Twitter, etc. We’d like as many people as possible to benefit from these bonus gifts.

Remember this offer is only good for purchases made on Thursday, March 22, 2012! *Even if Amazon runs out of stock--you can still order because more books are on the way from the publisher.*

Email Rachellethewriter@gmail.com with your order confirmation/receipt when you purchase CALLER ID.

Watch the book trailer:

Giveaway Winners and Other Fun Stuff!

2012-03-21T10:17:00.000-06:00

Thanks so much to all of you who joined in my blog celebration! The winners have been chosen and notified, but before I tell you who they are, I want to share a couple of links.

First the Amazon page! It's available now to order now!

And the Goodreads page! I'd sure appreciate it if you added it to your "To Read" list. Thanks a million to all of you for all your support.

Also, the book has it's own Facebook page and the characters have taken over! Go check it out and give it a like if you feel so inclined.

Now on to the winners!

Winner of the Hannah prize package:

Renae!

Winner of the Derek prize package

Larry and Cindy!

Winner of the McKenzie prize package

Tiffany!

Winner of the Kwetoo'unuv prize package

P Woodland!

Winner of the Joey prize package

Michelle Jenson!

Winner of the final prize package

Shallee!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered. I had fun. Hope you did too!

Lindsay Duncan Discusses Short Fiction

2012-03-19T07:00:00.000-06:00

Today, I am pleased to present author Lindsey Duncan, a fantastic writer that we have published in Mindflights. She's celebrating the release of her contemporary fantasy novel, Flow. She's here to talk about short fiction, a topic near and dear to my heart. Take it away, Lindsey!
************************************************************************

Angie asked me to talk about how short stories have helped my writing and career. I thought this was a great topic, especially as I started as one of those authors who was a novelist and nothing else. For years, I actively resisted the idea of writing short fiction. I thought it took attention away from what I wanted to do; I thought there was no way that I, personally, could fit a satisfying story into the short form. My encounters with magazines and anthology at the times hadn’t been encouraging, either: at one point, reading a shared-world anthology that shall not be named, I saw a description of a building as “a four-sided square,” and that about killed me for reading short stories to the tune of years. Straws, camel’s backs.

I finally turned my thoughts to writing short fiction again as a purely pragmatic endeavor. I had heard that short fiction credits attracted the attention of agents and publishers. That was all – I hadn’t considered the financial or creative side. It was just a stepping stone. I started brainstorming ideas for short stories, mostly scenarios inspired by mythology or sayings or back-stories for characters. Many of these weren’t, speaking from objective hindsight, really suited for stories – more like vignettes.

One of the first short stories I wrote was inspired by a Serbian legend of an unusual werewolf origin: drinking out of the footprints of another werewolf. An intriguing concept, but the story I produced had nothing else unusual to recommend it. It ended up on the retirement shelf quickly, as did the next few. One “stuck,” but still opened like a novel (that is, too slowly for the form). I rewrote it years later, and it’s now making the submission rounds.

I also started reading short fiction again, and found the enjoyment of it at last, in particular from two sources: the often-light but stylish Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine and anthologies. Anthologies have become an obsession of mine ...or at least, themed anthologies. I’m still neutral on best-of and other such unthemed compilations, because a good portion of the enjoyment is the common thread and how diverse the interpretations are.

I blundered around with other short stories and finally made my first sale – ever. To cap off the enjoyment – or the irony? – it was a story I had rewritten from scratch in a few days in response to a themed anthology call. I screamed, I freaked my parents out (was still at home then), and I … bled. Yes. I gave myself a paper Shcut on my first acceptance letter.

Chicken or the egg? I cannot honestly say that finding true enjoyment in short fiction didn’t have something to do with the thrill of publication – but it’s not why that enjoyment endured. Because I found aspects about short fiction that I adored: the ability to take those countless small ideas that wouldn’t sustain a novel and build a great story around them; creating new characters who I could love and leave; the sometime fiendish puzzle of trying to work out how to suggest setting, character and backstory in an opening while kicking the plot into motion; the art of implying a setting with only brushstrokes and hints.

I’ve also done a few whacky things, like a story with two versions of the ending (framing the story in a completely different fashion), a story that occurs entirely as “dialogue” between two chars trapped in a single body, and a story in first person plural, present tense. I didn’t set out to do anything strange, but I had ideas that needed the unusual vehicle, and the short form allowed me to attempt experiments that would be (for me!) untenably bizarre in long form.

Most of my short fiction still has that novel feel the sense that I rarely have tidy endings – I describe my most common ending as answering the plot problem with, “Yes, but …” I like the sensation that the character’s lives continue on far longer than the tale can tell. In some ways, this is another advantage to short stories: the glimpse is much more brief than in a novel, so the possibilities are much wider. When your character has trekked the length and breadth of the land, found true love and fought dark hordes, their next moves are somewhat more defined than if the sum of their “on-camera” action is escaping an over-enthusiastic suitor.

How has short fiction helped my writing? I have learned a lot about pacing, economy of words, and allowing descriptions to serve double and triple duty. I have flexed my mental muscles in generating and executing more ideas, worlds and characters than I could sanely have produced at novel length. And I have been able to take a break and “rescue” myself from the slog of novel writing to finish something shorter and experience that satisfaction.

How has short fiction helped my career? I can’t say for sure it has had any direct impact on how editors or agents view me. What I can say is that it has provided me with the opportunity to do my first book-signing and two live readings. It has also given me experience with the give-and-take of making an editor’s requested changes.

And being paid doesn’t hurt, either. But more than that, I have learned from short fiction that people are willing to pay me for my words, that I have some knack worth purchasing – and that helps me know my writing is on track.

Thanks so much, Lindsey!

LINDSEY DUNCAN is the author of contemporary fantasy Flow, just released by Double Dragon Publishing. Flow follows the water-witch Chailyn, on dry land for her first mission, and Kit, a contemporary teen with mysterious powers, as they seek the man who killed Kit's mother ... a goal which catches the interest of the darkest of fairies. They must also deal with the Borderwatch, a zealous organization that hunts fairies and has been in a cold war with the water-witches for decades.

Flow can be found here:

To tie back to this post, three of her short stories are also available for individual sale:

Fatecraft:
Taming the Weald:
The Naming Braid:

DOTC Blog Celebration: Meet the Rest

2012-03-16T07:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the Defenders of the Covenant blog celebration!

Today, I'd like to introduce you to Everyone else!

Okay, I'm not really going to interview everyone else in the book, but I am going to tell you about a few of them.

Jeremey Elliot: McKenzie's boyfriend. He's handsome and charming, but also rebellious, selfish, and arrogant. Gets everyone into a lot more trouble than they bargained for.

Lem, Sam, and Tim Martin: Triplet brothers who love to laugh and have fun. They're fighter jet experts and Derek thinks they exist solely to drive him insane.

Aunt Elzie: Alien scientist and social reformer bent on convincing her society that humans are intelligent beings worthy of freedom.

Brother Ancient: He's been around for a good long while and has a way of making little (or even big) miracles happen.

President Schroeder: The prophet. Need I say more?

The watcher: Ruler of the slaves in the black city. His capture of Hannah and her friends leads to consequences he could never have imagined!

The Final Prize Package:


Signed copy of Defenders of the Covenant (approx. value $19)

Avenging Angels T-shirt (approx. value $10)

Back of the T-shirt

(The Avenging Angels shirt was designed by the uber-talented Paul Browning of Business Logos.) BTW, the Avenging Angels are the fighter jets. You can see one of them on the cover above!

To enter: Please leave a comment on this post letting me know you want to be entered and an email address for contact.* By entering you agree to abide by the Official Rules (please read them!)

I am extending the deadline to enter on this or any of the other posts until Tuesday, March 20 at midnight! Winners will be announced on March 21.

*If your blogger email is open (I can respond to your comments via email), you do not need to leave your email in the comment.*

Previously: Meet Hannah Emerson
   Meet Derek Halstead
                   Meet McKenzie Larson
   Meet Kwetoo'unuv Walker
                   Meet Joey Carrier

DOTC Blog Celebration: Meet Joey Carrier

2012-03-13T07:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the Defenders of the Covenant blog celebration!

Today, I'd like to introduce you to Bishop Joey Carrier.

Joey, or Bishop Carrier, as most people call him, is sixty-eight years old, and the leader, spiritual and otherwise, of the refuge where Hannah, Derek and McKenzie live. I asked him to answer a few questions.

Favorite thing about being a bishop? When members of my little flock come to me for counsel and advice. I love them all so much. I'm glad they trust me to help them through hard times. I am grateful for the Lord's grace to give me the strength I need to be the bishop.

Favorite food? Fresh, homemade bread with lots of butter. Two things that used to be favorites that we don't have down here in the refuge are fresh fish and chocolate cake. Our small cocoa supply ran out a long time ago.

Favorite book? The Book of Mormon.

Hobbies? Fly fishing was my hobby before the invasion. Oh, how I miss it. Now, I enjoy reading and watching old movies.

Best piece of advice? "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3: 5-6)

Thanks, Joey! (Or should I call you Bishop?)

The Joey Prize Package:

Fishing plaque and purple tie (approx. value $15)

To enter: Please leave a comment on this post letting me know you want to be entered and an email address for contact.* By entering you agree to abide by the Official Rules (please read them!)

*If your blogger email is open (I can respond to your comments via email), you do not need to leave your email in the comment.*

On Friday: Meet the rest
Previously: Meet Kwetoo'unuv Walker
   Meet Hannah Emerson
   Meet Derek Halstead
                   Meet McKenzie Larson